The advertising industry in this region has plenty to shout about when it comes to gender diversity. We recently interviewed a number of female executives for our annual Women in Advertising issue and there were lots of positive comments about the progress being made.
But no-one will deny there is a lot more work to do in leveling the playing field. We will be publishing these interviews online at Campaign Middle East and in our September issue.
Mai Yassin, Head of Online Community Management, Hashtag
An experienced leader in cultivating thriving online communities. For over 7 years, I’ve been managing well-known clients, with the help of our team including ongoing training and development for community managers.
Advertising is an ever-evolving environment, and anyone who wants to make a career in this industry needs to be prepared to welcome change at any time. When I first started, it was already led by female workers.
And I’m amazed by their attention to detail, overcoming challenges, and driving the change to the stereotype that society has of ‘women can’t work’ because I believe that ladies do lead the empowering wave perfectly.
Here is my advice to women who are starting out in the advertising industry:
- Be confident in your abilities.
- Continuously learn and stay updated to the advertising industry since it is constantly evolving.
- Embrace collaboration and teamwork, advertising is a collaborative field.
- Find work-life balance as advertising can be demanding, with tight deadlines and long hours.
- Be resilient and adaptable.
- Build a strong professional network.
Embrace diversity and inclusivity, and be motivated and inspired. Have the power to shape attitudes, challenge stereotypes, collaborate and communicate.
Know your audience, It’s important to know your target audience so you can curate content directly towards consumers.
Consider offering your target audience a clear list of benefits and perks that come with your brand, and create advertising that uplifts and empowers all.
Together, let’s build and shape a more diverse industry.In order to support the growth of women in the advertising industry, we can focus on promoting a mentorship/leadership programmes with the necessary skills and confidence to take on higher-level positions with equal opportunities and flexible work environment.
Set policies that promote parents and caregivers, make time to be a mentor and offer peer support for them and also to inspire female speakers.
Amplify women’s voices: create platforms and opportunities for women to showcase their expertise, ideas and perspectives.
The advertising industry thrives on digital innovation, creative breakthroughs, the rise of new technologies such as augmented reality and virtual reality and ChatGPT. TikTok Videos are opening up new creative possibilities and innovation for advertisers enabling them to create immersive and engaging experiences for consumers. Aim for social impact, the power of authenticity and reflect on the ever-evolving landscape of consumer engagement.
